Homemade Christmas Sweet Jars with Rowntree’s®

In this article

• Why Make Homemade Christmas Sweet Jars?
• The Best Jars for Christmas Sweet Jars
• What you Need to Make Christmas Sweet Jars
• How to Make Christmas Sweet Jars
• Creative Themes and Decoration Ideas
• Personalisation Ideas
• Best Sweets for Christmas Sweet Jars
• When and Where to Use Your Christmas Sweet Jars 
   

Practical and charming, our Christmas sweet jars make a fantastic personalised Christmas gift for family and friends. Packed with colourful layers of chewy and gummy Rowntree’s® sweets, smooth Milkybar®, crunchy Smarties® and more, these jars are great for gifting or sweetening up any event with a treat. All it takes is a little planning, a few basic supplies and your imagination.  

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Why Make Homemade Christmas Sweet Jars? 

Like a warm hug from your bestie, homemade Christmas sweet jars have special appeal during the festive season. They’re charming, thoughtful and show that you really care. From the jar choice and decorations to the selection of sweets and a handwritten note, every step is a chance to create something memorable. They’re also budget-friendly, because with a bit of clever upcycling, you might even already have half the supplies you need. 

The Best Jars for Christmas Sweet Jars  

Choose something pretty yet sturdy enough to showcase your colourful creation. 

Plastic vs Glass Jars 

Plastic jars are lightweight, shatterproof and a good choice if the recipient plans to travel. However, for elegance and sustainability, you can’t beat glass jars. They feel premium, look beautiful, are more easily recycled and are generally easier to upcycle, as jam, honey and marmalade all come in glass jars. You’ve probably got a few squirrelled away in your cupboard already! 
 

Types of Glass Jars  

There´s a size, shape and jar type for every occasion

1. Bonta Jars: classic screw-top jars with wide mouths, making them easy to fill and seal securely.
2. Hexagonal Jars: eye-catching angles that are ideal for creating gorgeous geometric layers.
3. Orcio Jar: cute jars with a country feel that will fit into any celebration.  
4. Mason Jars: a timeless, rustic classic that’s available in a wide range of sizes.  
5. Square Jars: modern, stackable and a good choice if you’re making lots of Christmas sweet jars.
6. Squat Jars: wide with many size options and perfect for layering your favourite sweets.
7. Honey Jars: pretty and versatile, and you or your neighbour might even have a few already.

Pro tip: to remove sticky labels, carefully fill the jar with boiling water – make sure the glass is at room temperature first, or else it could crack with the sudden temperature change. Let it stand for 10 minutes to soften the glue, then peel off the label. Alternatively, you can place it upright inside a bowl and fill it, and the bowl, with boiled water to soak. 
 

What You’ll Need  

• Your chosen jars
• An assortment of Rowntree’s® sweets like Fruit Pastilles, Jelly Tots®, Randoms® and Fruit Gums.
• Chocolate Nestlé treats like Smarties®, Milkybar® Buttons, Rolo® or Aero® Bubbles.
• Red, green, white, gold or silver ribbons, festive washi tape, stripes of patterned material, twine or string.
• Name tags, sticker labels or message tags.
• Extra festive fun like stickers, mini ornaments, Santa hats, candy canes or bells. 

 Step-by-Step: How to Make Your Christmas Sweet Jars 

Make it pretty, tasty, and festive.  

1. Prepare your jars by cleaning and drying them thoroughly. For stubborn glue, use nail polish remover and a cloth or plastic scraper.  
2. Use a mix of Rowntree’s® sweets to create layers of colour. Stick to colour blocks or mix it up and go multicoloured. Jelly Tots® are great for creating thin layers to separate larger layers of Fruit Pastilles, Fruit Gums or Randoms®.  
3. Add some chocolate flavour with colourful Smarties®, or break the colours with a layer of creamy Milkybar® Buttons. Rolo® or Munchies® work well as a chunky base or middle layer. Pick a few of your favourite Quality Street® to finish with a festive flourish. Either unwrap and include in the top, or you could save a couple still-wrapped to attach to the top as part of the finishing touches.
4. Fill to the brim, but don’t press down too hard or you might mess up your layers, or even damage the sweets.  
5. Close the lid tightly, then wrap ribbon or twine around the neck. Add your festive flair, like mini ornaments, stickers, a Santa hat, a couple of Quality Street sweets or a snowman face on the lid. Another fun idea is to attach a wrapped homemade cookie to the lid. See our Christmas Baking Recipes for ideas.  
6. Attach a tag or sticker along with a fun seasonal message, or a Christmas Joke!  

Store your jars in a cool, dry place and they’ll keep for several weeks. With a bit of planning, you can keep a stash of Christmas sweet jars ready to go from the moment December starts – just in time for that Secret Santa at work. 
 

From the jar choice and decorations to the selection of sweets and a handwritten note, every step is a chance to create something memorable.
 

Creative Themes and Decoration Ideas 

Let your theme be your guide. Here are a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing.  

• Snowman Surprise – go all in on Olaf and his frosty pals with a chilled-out snowman theme. Think Milkybar® Buttons, frosty-looking Fruit Pastilles, Polo® Mints, snowflake stickers and snowman face toppers. You could even print out a recipe for our Milkybar® Snowman Cake, roll it up and sneak it in as a surprise into the middle of the jar. 
   
• Santa’s Reindeer – If you’ve got a lot of sweet jars to make, why not re-create Santa’s team of trusty reindeer? Each family member can get a different reindeer on Christmas Eve. Fill the jars with a colourful mix of sweets such as Jelly Tots®, chocolates such as Smarties®, and use black or brown twist ties to create antlers on the tops of the jars. You could even add googly eyes to the jar to give them even more personality, or some little jingle bells! For another fun Christmas Eve idea for kids, explore our Christmas Eve Box article. 
   
• Naughty Elf – Jumble all the sweets up so there are no clear layers and blame it on the naughty elves! If you’re feeling extra mischievous, you can hide a creepy crawly toy bug in the jar.  
   

Personalisation Ideas for Christmas Sweet Jars 

• Photos add charm and nostalgia with ease. Print a small image of you and the recipient and tie it to the jar as a decorative touch.
• Incorporate things they love into the jar. It could be their favourite football team colours, a picture of their dog or dried petals from their favourite flower.  
• Ditch the name tags and write directly on the jar with metallic paint pens, or better yet, paint a picture on the jar! This is a fun route for kids making sweet jars for aunts, uncles or cousins.  
• Don’t forget the power of a quippy quip or funny pun! Here are a few to get you going:
  • I like you lots, like Jelly Tots!  
  • All I want for Christmas is chew!
  • For my Smartie-est friend!
  • Hope your Christmas is choc-full of joy!
  • Sweet wishes and sugary kisses! 
     

Best Sweets for Christmas Sweet Jars 

A festive line-up for every taste.  

• Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles, Fruit Gums, Jelly Tots® and Randoms® bring the chew, flavour and fun to every Christmas sweet jar.
• Milkybar® Buttons add a touch of smooth and creamy magic.
• Smarties® and Aero® Bubbles add crunch, colour, texture and bubbles.  
• Rolo® and Munchies® bring oozy caramel and crunchy biscuits to the party.
• Quality Street® and Dairy Box® flavours add an extra special touch.  
   

When and Where to Use Your Christmas Sweet Jars 

Like a Rowntree’s® Pick & Mix, there’s a sweet jar for every occasion!  

• Christmas Party Favours – End your Christmas party on an elegant high with an adult’s sweet jar. Think beautiful jars with silver and gold ribbons, a handwritten name tag and a thank-you note.
• Teacher Presents – Thoughtful jars full of sweet thoughts and chewy treats always win hearts. Ask your child to find out your teacher’s favourite sweets and make sure to include them.
• Adult stocking fillers – The joy of pulling a beautifully layered sweet jar out of a stocking never gets old.  
• Table Decorations – Set the festive vibe with personalised sweet jars at every table setting for sharing after the event.
• Office Treats – Make a big jar and bring it to work to share with your colleagues during the countdown to the holidays. Rally the troops for a sweet surprise from the jar.  

Sweet Success  

The world of DIY sweet jars is wide, varied, versatile and oh so tasty! So give it a go this festive season, and once you’ve mastered the jar, try your hand at our Christmas Sweet Cones.